GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman emerged from a White House powwow with President Trump on Tuesday with a promise to sue Gov. Kathy Hochul if she enacts anti-ICE policies.
Blakeman otherwise kept largely tight-lipped on details from his behind-closed-doors meeting with his longtime friend Trump, although he did volunteer that their “confidential” conversation also covered energy cost, economic policy and crime in New York.
But when asked afterward about Hochul’s stance on ICE, Blakeman didn’t hold back on his rival.
“If Gov. Hochul and the legislature pass a law restricting local government from cooperating with ICE, I will sue them in federal court,” Blakeman said.
“I don’t think they have the constitutional right to tell my police department not to work with a federal agency.”
Blakeman, who is now serving as the Nassau County executive, confirmed he also met with the White House political operation. He wouldn’t confirm whether Trump would campaign for him, but hinted it could unfold.
“He’s very supportive and he’s going to be helpful,” Blakeman said. “I think he’ll be active in my campaign. I think he’ll be helpful.”
The face-to-face was met with derision by Hochul.
“That’s just precious. I know he’s going to get his marching orders,” she said, belittingly.
“I’m not surprised he’s going down there to ask for his help in a struggling campaign. And so I think the voters will look at that with a skewed eye for how they feel about a candidate for governor having to go to the White House to get direction on what to do.”
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But Hochul’s attempt at portraying Blakeman as a meek Trump toady at the White House arguably was hypocritical, given her own White House groveling.
When not publicly cosplaying as the Rambo-esque leader of the “resistance,” Hochul regularly chats chummily with Trump over the phone – and isn’t above visiting the White House.
She also presented Trump with a flattering storytime-style booklet last year touting the virtues of congestion pricing.
“Big words, nice colors,” Hochul joked at the time.
A Hochul campaign spokesperson doubled down on her claims against Blakeman after the meeting Tuesday.
“Bruce Blakeman went crawling all the way to Trump’s doorstep for help empowering ICE, jacking up costs, and gutting Medicaid,” spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said. “We’ll give Bruce some free advice he won’t hear from his MAGA handlers in DC: New Yorkers want a governor who fights back against Trump, not one who folds on command.”
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